I am recently separated; how will I know whether I will receive alimony, and for how long?

Massachusetts substantially modified its alimony law in 2012.  As a result, courts were provided with more guidance about the circumstances under which alimony should be awarded, the length of time that alimony should be paid, and the events that should trigger a termination, reduction or suspension of alimony.  Typically, alimony will not exceed the recipient’s need or 30 to 35% of the difference in the parties’ gross incomes.  However, there are exceptions, and the court may deviate from that formula under some circumstances.  The duration of alimony typically depends upon the length of the marriage, i.e., the longer the marriage, the longer the term of alimony.  Moreover, Massachusetts now recognizes several categories of alimony:  rehabilitative, reimbursement, transitional and general term alimony.  Because of the intricacies of this law, the interplay of alimony with other divorce-related issues, and the wide array of interpretations within the court system, it is wise to discuss your circumstances with an attorney to determine how the law applies to your particular circumstances.